Kuerten bows out with a 6-3 6-4 6-2
The swansong, although four years late, had the perfect setting. An opponent who plays great in 20 min bursts, and can spare Kuerten the pain of having to play 5 sets to lose this match, and near full French Open crowd that was present to give this man a fitting send-off.
The match had everything, a mexican wave, ‘GUGA’ chants, two conceded aces, a shirt that reminded one of ‘97, grunts that got deeper with every passing game, Kuerten speaking in cute French at the end and most unexpectedly great tennis.
30 winners, of which 17 were from Kuerten. The magical backhand was still on painting the lines, except not 10 out of 10 times.
The man who made clay court tennis enjoyable and who still has the chance to end up as the greatest clay courter of the last two decades decided he won’t try anymore.
Thankfully, none of the self-obsessed american pricks like McEnroe and Courier were allowed anywhere near Kuerten with a mic on the court. Result - no comment by Kuerten on Rafa or Roger or whoever the fuck.
Since I have to bring in Federer into this post, let’s say Federer can learn two things from this great Brazilian. One, how to hit a backhand when the ball jumps on you, and, two, how to cry like a man.
p.s. Mathieu, the last man to beat Sampras, said that he allowed Kuerten to enjoy his last game. Thank you for that, Mathieu. I know you didn’t extend this favour to Sampras. Thank you for that too. The match was just perfect.
Tags: , gracefully, Kuerten, retires
May 26th, 2008 at 4:26 am
Nice writeup. But I expected one such writeup for Henin too.
May 26th, 2008 at 5:30 am
But I don’t like Henin. May be for Gasquet.
May 26th, 2008 at 5:54 am
I will write for Karunanithi.
May 26th, 2008 at 6:11 am
Please invite me as guest author when Karunanidhi retires/dies.
May 26th, 2008 at 6:53 am
gf, your greatest achievement is that I thought of you when I saw this match.
May 26th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
Thanks Guga for the memories..yep, Fed can pick up the backhand from Guga.
May 27th, 2008 at 10:50 am
Too bad there is nothing to stop the self-obsessed Indian prick like you, spouting some worthless moronic arm chair “analyses”, from talking about McEnroe and Courier. At least they did pick up a racket and actually DO something. Now you will come up with a string of swear words in response. Don’t bother.
May 27th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
I am dissapointed that you think I will abuse you.
May 28th, 2008 at 12:19 am
Not you, Gasquet Fan. You would not do something like that Nilu. You response would be oho!
May 28th, 2008 at 12:23 am
You should stop shagging Nilu. Reading this blog is good enough.
May 28th, 2008 at 12:28 am
There you go! Told you not to bother with a silly response that would not make any sense. Saying something randonly crude and offensive is NOT a response not is it a blog, moron.
May 28th, 2008 at 12:45 am
Ok sir. I will now try my best to win a grand slam and then only post on this blog.
May 28th, 2008 at 12:59 am
Anyone can write anything. But you often use crude vulgar offensive language as a substitute for an intelligent well constructed case to back your point. You have a far too high opinion of your average to badly written posts. You don’t have to win a grand slam but you need a get a perspective.
May 28th, 2008 at 1:02 am
If I have a high opinion of my posts I should write more, no?
May 28th, 2008 at 1:11 am
You ARE stupid! That high opinion is so unjusitified!!! No use saying anything to you any further. You are just another kiruba/ Amit Verma-bad writing that is impossible to get rid of.
May 28th, 2008 at 1:15 am
ennada olarra? if you want to have the last word, you should have said so. will you play tennis with me this weekend?
May 28th, 2008 at 4:25 am
Won’t someone be friends with Gasquet fan? He has been begging people to play tennis with him on this blog for months now. Whoever says yes, will get imported chocolates from GF’s mom. Please play with him.
May 28th, 2008 at 5:05 am
I might have to announce a 10,000rs prize to someone who beats me in a five match series of five sets. I also feel obligated to let out the secret that a good friend of mine was the National number one in tennis some years back.
May 29th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
GF, 7 malai 7 kadal thaandi pona oru kuruvi irukkum. Adhukkula mandiravadi uyir irukkum… Andha madhiri irukku nee solradhu. 5 match series of 5 sets win panna Rs. 10,000? Enna kodumai idhu…
May 29th, 2008 at 6:17 pm
sari, ogay, 1000rs bet match. but best of 5 sets. unakku ok va?
May 30th, 2008 at 5:47 am
I am not playing. I just lost $20 to a guy. I said Federer was a baseline player and he said he was serve and volley player. The jury in my office ruled in favor of him.
May 30th, 2008 at 8:01 am
the jury is stupid. There are only 3 serve and volley players in top 50. Radek Stepanek, Michael Llodra, Mario Ancic.